TR4/4A Chrome Moulding Question

[bammons]

I am trying to remount the chrome (stainless?) side mouldings on my TR4A. I am reusing the old ones which are on that fine line between use them or get new. I have installed the rivets and have tried to mount one front fender moulding. I know that they are handed and think I am using the correct one for the drivers side. Now the problem: Some of the moulding has snapped over the rivet head but some won't. In looking at the mouldings upside down I can see slight indentations from where they were originally mounted. The metal is thicker than you would think and I have not been able to bend these indentations out any (keeping in mind I don't want to hurt the straightness/chrome etc.). I have (yes I immediately went to the hammer) tried to use a block of wood and strike at the rivets but that is not getting it on some. My question is : Can I tap at the end to slide the moulding down say 1/4-1/2" to get past the indentations and then get them seated and gently slide them back without damaging the paint? Also how close to the edge of the fender should be the final position? My door mouldings do not have the stud anymore which goes in the last hole so is this one of those things where you just say I should just get new? They aren't cheap. Opinions please. Bruce

 

[bammons]

Ok I got one piece on. Of course now it appears like I put the right side on the left. I thought I had heard that the slight up/down curve at the front was to go down and that is the way I installed this piece. But it does not look right as it does not follow the line of the crease in the fender when it gets to the front. Did I put this on the wrong side? Bruce

 

[RGK]

Not sure if the 4A and 250 use the same moulding, but here is a picture from my 250 where it ends at the door seam. Doesn't help now but when removing something, labeling is your friend

 

[bammons]

Good advice. Took car apart some 11 years ago and moved since then and after a full teardown without good documentation I now know that important lesson. Can you tell me if the front trim pieces turn down or up at the front? I have only installed the driver side and I put it turned down at the front but the gap with the fender crease goes to nothing at the side marker light and does not look right. The gap is maybe 1/4" for most of it's lenght but the last several inches the trim is right on the crease. Bruce

 

[RGK]

Using a straight edge, they have a very slight turn down and inward following the body contour to the side light fixture.